Priestland working with Jenkins to improve goalkicking

The Wales fly-half is no longer the first choice goal kicker for his country

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Fly-half Rhys Priestland's has held emergency kicking sessions with Wales coach Neil Jenkins after his misfiring start to the season with Scarlets.

Priestland missed six out of seven attempts at goal in the Welsh region's last outing against Glasgow.

Leigh Halfpenny was handed the goal-kicking duties for Wales' in their successful 2012 RBS 6 Nations campaign and again in the summer tour.

And while Priestland may not be the man in the spotlight for Wales anymore, Scarlets backs coach Mark Jones insists he is still his first choice in the club game.

"I want the outside-half to be the kicker of the team," said Jones.

"I know Rhys has already spoken to 'Jenks' about his kicking. I think Rhys sees him a lot and speaks to him in his own time.

"A 14% kicking success rate is a worry but Rhys has already started on putting that right. We saw a lot of good stuff from Rhys in the game.

"I was keen to let him stay out there and develop. He wasn't having a bad game outside the kicking. We didn't take the kicking off him and we are confident he will get better for it.

"It was only right and proper we let the Wales outside-half battle on and kick during the game."
Indeed such is the concern that Jones admitted he was considering appointing a specialist kicking coach for Scarlets.

"I am committed to developing all the players so they are ready when they go to international rugby. We need to turn out well-rounded players," he added.

"Rhys is the No1 kicker on the field at the moment. He will take the first kick at goal. It's only right Rhys is our No10 and we give him game-time ahead of Europe.

"He was No10 last season when Wales reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and won the Six Nations. Rhys needs to keep playing. From my experience of Rhys, he gains confidence and plays better when he appears regularly. We want to play him into form."

After losing their Under-20s Six Nations crown to England Under-20s in a thrilling final round, France Under-20s lock Tristan Labouteley insists his side will be out for revenge at this year's Junior World Championship.